This morning's issue of The Guardian carries a report that the publishers of Marvel comic are to recast Thor as a female character in October. This is billed by Marvel as ''one of the most shocking and exciting changes ever to shake one of the 'big three' of Captain America, Iron Man and Thor''. Editor Wil Moss believes that Thor will continue Marvel's proud tradition of strong female characters like Captain Marvel, Storm, Black Widow and others. Thor's writer, Jason Aaron says that this is not She-Thor, Lady Thor or Thorita, this is the THOR of the Marvel Universe, but unlike any Thor we've seen before. Marvel says that the title ''aims to speak directly to an audience that was not the target for superhero comic books in America - women and girls''.

If it produces a good story, why not? Some fans moaned about The Superior Spider-Man run (Doc Ock does a mind swap with Spidey) but it turned out to be one of the best Spider-Man sagas in years. Some fans complained about Captain America being 'killed' and replaced, but again, that run of stories was excellent.

It all depends on how it's handled. Even the daftest concept can be spun into gold with the right creative team. Yes, the status quo will return, and there will be a make Thor again (next summer probably, when the next Avengers movie comes out). The return to status quo is inevitable. It's not the destination, it's the journey there that could be interesting.

I must admit that I'd quite like to see Thor break down and reveal that he'd always secretly felt like a woman in a man's body, and then apply for gender-reassignment surgery after living and dressing as a woman for the required twelve months. Somehow I don't think that's the kind of 'sex change' they mean though! I wonder if this has anything to do with the recent reintroduction of Neil Gaiman's Angela to the Marvel Universe?

I'm very much against Sam Wilson becoming Captain America. The Falcon is a partner and friend of Steve Rogers but not a sidekick/junior version. Having Robin/Bucky become their heroes is quite different to The Flash becoming Batman or Thor becoming Iron Man (or, even worse, Iron Woman).

I find it quite demeaning to the whole character of the Falcon. He's not just a wannabe.

They can do what they like with most of their characters but as Thor is borrowed from Norse mythology it kind of feels he isn't really theirs to feminise. Still I suppose there aren't many Thor-worshippers around anymore to complain.

Apparently, the real Thor will still be around, he just won't have his full powers anymore. The idea seems to be to do with the inscription on the hammer, that anyone who is worthy of lifting it will receive the power of Thor. For some reason, Thor Odinson is no longer worthy of lifting the hammer, and this new female Thor picks it up instead.

I'm very much against Sam Wilson becoming Captain America. The Falcon is a partner and friend of Steve Rogers but not a sidekick/junior version. Having Robin/Bucky become their heroes is quite different to The Flash becoming Batman or Thor becoming Iron Man (or, even worse, Iron Woman).

I find it quite demeaning to the whole character of the Falcon. He's not just a wannabe.

Sorry, but it's actually confirmed, not rumoured. And he's keeping his wings.

If the stories are written well then I don't see the problem. Yes, The Falcon is a hero in his own right but having him become Captain America could be a good way to challenge prejudices.

I really don't understand the objections to these changes. Surely readers don't want the same status quo ALL the time? Even if it just shakes things up for a year (until the next Avengers movie) it's worth it if it produces intriguing stories along the lines of The Winter Soldier / Bucky Cap and the Superior Spider-Man run.

I'm not particularly against changes but I don't like the Falcon being reduced to a wannabe. If Luke Cage had become Cap, I wouldn't have bothered. It just seems a lessening of a character to a sidekick or junior. In this case, a strong black character is now a character that secretly wanted to be his more famous white partner. Sorry, senior partner as it is now. It just doesn't sit right with me.

I'm not particularly against changes but I don't like the Falcon being reduced to a wannabe. If Luke Cage had become Cap, I wouldn't have bothered. It just seems a lessening of a character to a sidekick or junior. In this case, a strong black character is now a character that secretly wanted to be his more famous white partner. Sorry, senior partner as it is now. It just doesn't sit right with me.

Is that how they're playing it, that he secretly wanted to be Cap? I thought it was more like Falcon was being assigned the role and being hand picked by Cap to take over the job. An equal, not a sidekick.

Marvel are having a bit of a shake up, and trying out some unusual ideas. Fanboys are melting in misogynistic rage, which would be hilarious if it wasn't so nauseating.

I think it is due, in part, to the massive success of Superior Spider-Man, in which Peter Parker's brain was taken over by Doctor Octopus. It was never intended to be permanent, but was a great storyline, in which Doc Ock gets to be the good guy and prove that he could be the better (superior) Spider-man. Spoiler: he fails. But fails spectacularly.

Thor has already been replaced twice, so I'm not sure what people's panties are in such a bunch for. I remembered reading that first issue by Walt Simonson, where Beta Ray Bill picks up Thor's hammer (which is disguised as a stick at the time), not realising what it is, and becomes an alien Thor. It was one of the most fantastic and exciting comics I ever read in my life. I don't know why fans these days are so outraged at anything outside the norm happening.

Anyone with any understanding of the comics industry must know that this is only temporary, but it could well the springboard for the new female character to spin off into her own title when she's done her stint as Thor.

And Steve Rodgers has been replaced as Captain America so often it's getting like he has someone stand in for him while he's on holiday. Hell, last time he was dead for six months.

_________________The Tammy Project: Documenting the classic British girls' comic, one serial at a time.

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